Loader



Jan. 10, 1933. T. H. OPPENHEIM LOADER Filed March 9 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet1 Jam 5%, 1%33 QPPENHEIM I 1,893,506

' LOADER Filed March 9, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ian. 10, 1933. oPP M1,893,506

LOADER Filed March 9. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 1Q, 1933. T. H.OPPENHEIM LOADER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 9. 1931 ff M Theodore @wPatented Jan. 10, 1933 UNITED STA THEODORE H. OPPENHEIM, OF COLDWATER,OHIO, ASSIGITOR'TO THE NEW IDEA SPREADER 00., A CORPORATION" OF OHIOLOADER Application filed March 9, 1931. Serial No. 521,190.

This invention relates to loaders.

The principal object of the invention is other mat elevating hay orbranch leaves, blades, blossoms,

erial having es or the like,

from the swath or wind-row and delivering the same on a wagon or othewith a minimum amount of agitation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedloader having its operating mechanism so arranged that the gathering andelevating elements operate in timed relation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improveddeck for a loader having novel means for preventing return movement ofthe material during its elevating movement.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of anew andimproved loader that is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture,

easily assembled, eflicient in operation, and that is notlikely tobecome broken or get out oforder.

Other and further objects andadvantages of the invention will appearfrom the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of disclosing theinvention, with away;

a hay loader parts broken Fig. 1a is a similar view of the upper end ofthe loader shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on 7 line 2-,-2 of Fig. 3,with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the loader,

with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of a modified form of floor or bottomwall for the deck;

Figure 5 is a cross-section of mg .amodified form of bearing a deckshowsupport Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a modified formof deck floor Fig. Tie a perspective View of a portion of a modifiedform of deck;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of a portion of forms of hay 9 or Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character 10 designatesgenerally the platform or frame on which the loader is mounted, andcomprises the side bars 11 and the transverse bars 12. The platform issupported at its forward end by the drive wheels 13 and 14 and at'itsrear end by the casters 15 and 16, as is usual in such constructions.

The material gathering member is shown at 17 and may be of any suitableconstruction, that shown, which is by way of example only, being in theform of a rotating cylinder having bars 20 pivoted thereon, on which arerigidly mounted the teeth 18. Each of the bars 20 is provided with a camwiper 19, see Fig. 1, which is adapted to engage the cam member 21 forholding the bars and the teeth attached thereto in operative positionduring a portion of the rotation of the member 17.

The construction and operation of this portion of the mechanism may beand preferably is similar to that disclosed in patent to Hartman1,353,586 ofSeptember 21, 1920.

The elevator comprises a deck designated generally by the referencecharacter 22 and suitable elevating mechanism as will presently appear.The deck includes the side members 23 and the bottom wall or floor 24.In the form of construction disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3 the bottom member24 is continuous throughout the width of the deck. It is preferably,though not necessarily, made of sheet metal. Suitable braces 25 and 26are provided for holding the deck in proper inclined position.

Suitable elevating mechanism is employed for elevating the material. Anysuitable mechanism may be employed for this purpose. In the formofconstruction shown, which is by way of example only, the elevatingmechanism is substantially the same as that disclosed in the Hartmanpatent and comprises two sets of reciprocating elevator bars 27 and 28arranged to operate 180 apart. These bars are movably connected tojournal boxes 29 which in turn are j ournaled on the crankshaft 31.

Each set of bars is provided with a corresponding set of pitmen 32 and33 respectively, for giving the elevator bars an elliptical movement.Each of the pitmen 82 is pivotally connected at its upper end to thecorresponding elevator bar 27 and at its lower end is pivotallyconnected to the extended portion 34 of the crankshaft 31. The pitmen 33are likewise pivoted at their upper ends to the corresponding bars 28and at their lower ends are pivoted to the extended portions 35 of thecrankshaft 81. Each of the elevator bars is provided with teeth 36 forelevating the hay delivered to the elevator by the gathering cylinder.Each of the elevator bars is provided with a guide or bail 37 forguiding the upper end of said bars.

Since the details of the construction and mounting of the pitmen andelevator bars constitute no part of the present invention it is notthought necessary to further lllustrate or describe the same.

In loading hay, vines, stalks, branches and other material from theswath or wind-row it is desirable that the same be subjected to aminimum amount of agitation in order not to strip off the blades,leaves, blossoms, branches or the like. A considerable amount of thevalue of the material is in these elements, and for that reason it ishighly desirable to preserve them. On becoming dry they are easilydetached and in order to preserve them it is necessary to subject thematerial to as little agitation as possible in handling. In thereciprocating bar type of loader as heretofore constructed, thematerial, during the loading operation, slides back down the elevator toa certain extent during the interval between the elevating strokes ofthe bars, and this movement results in unnecessary agitation of thematerial.

The present invention seeks to avoid this diiliculty by the provision ofmeans for preventing the return movement of the material during itselevation. In the form of construction selected to illustrate oneembodiment of the invention the bottom wall 24 of the deck is providedwith means for preventing the return movement of the hay. As

shown, this bottom member is corrugated or stepped with the corrugationsextending transversely thereof. VVhlle the entire length of this memberis preferably corruthe metal at these points, especially if galalongwith the material vanized material be used, because sharp bending willcause galvanizing to flake ofi more or less.

In order to prevent water from collecting on the corrugated surface theupper surfaces 39 of these corrugations are inclined downwardly fordraining the water downwardly of the deck, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings. By means of this arrangement the material will be held inits advanced position by the outstanding walls 39 of the floor of thedeck.

If desired, this holding arrangement may be supplemented by cooperatingholding members 41 of any suitable construction. Each of the members 41,in the form shown in Fig. 3, comprises an attaching base portion 42 andan outwardly extending hay retaining portion 43.

The rear edge of the upstanding portion 43 is inclined upwardly andforwardly in order that the material may readily pass over the same andthe upper or forward edge of the member extends at an abrupt angle tothe floor of the deck as clearly shown in Fig. 2 for holding thematerial in advancedzpos'ition. These holding members may be made fromangle irons or other suitable material.

In order to further decrease the agitation of the material during theloading operation it is desirable that the elevating bars be operated intimed relation to the movement of the material gathering member 17.. Inthe form of construction shown this is accomplished by operating thecrankshaft and the gathering cylinder from the same drive chains. Asshown, the gathering cylinder 17 at each side of the loader is providedwith a sprocket 44 and the crankshaft is provided with a sprocket 45 ofthe same number of teeth as the sprocket 44. It is evident that otherratios between the number of teeth on these two sprockets may beemployed. A sprocket chain 46 trained over a sprocket 47 carried by theground wheel and-about an idler sprocket 48 is adapted to extend aboutthe sprockets 44 and 45 for operating the same. A

In an arrangement where the gathering cylinder is provided withgathering teeth or-fingers and only two sets of elevator bars areemployed, these bars are operated to receive the material directly fromeach alternate row of teeth on inder. The material collected by thepreceding row of teeth will have sufiicient space at the base of theelevator and will beengaged by the teeth of the elevator membersdelivered by the succeeding row of teeth on a minimum amount ofagitation of the material.

In all arrangements, the teeth '36 of the elevator bars will {engagethematerial .delivered by the teeth 18 ofthe gathering cylinfour rows of ithe cylthe cylinder, with der immediately before the cam wipers of theteeth 18 pass beyond the cam 21, whereby a minimum of agitation of thematerial delivered by the gat iering cylinder to the elevator mechanismis accomplished.

The relative rates of rotation of the sprockets a4 and 15 will depend onthe number of sets of elevating bars employed as well as on the numberof rows of teeth on the gathering member. The arrangement may be varied,but in any event the movement of the parts will beso arranged as toreduce the agitation of the hay to a minimum consistent with efiiciencyin gathering and elevating the same. The arr; ngement of course willvary with the angular distance between the rows of teeth of thecylinder, or with the number of sets of elevator bars employed, but inany event it is desirable that the teeth of the elevator bars en age thehay immediately before the teeth of the gathering cylinder are released.

The amount of material delivered by the gathering cylinder to theelevator deck will vary considerably, and in order to avoid unnecessaryagitation of the material with consequent detaching -of the blades,leaves, branches or the like from the stalks when abnormal amounts aredelivered to the deck by the gathering mechanism, means are provided foraccommodating the variation in amounts delivered. This may beaccomplished by automatically increasing the distance between theelevator bars and the bottom wall of the deck. As shown, the floor orbottom wall 2-1 of the deck is unattached or floating at its lower end.This floor rests on the cross bar 49 and is unattached to the deck fromthat point to the lower end thereof.

The lower portion of the floor or bottom wall may be and preferably isprovided with guards or aprons 280 and 240 at each side thereof, seeFig. 9. These aprons are rigidly connected to the floor and extendupwardly and then outwardl and constitute sides or guards for the sideedges of the floor when the same is forced downwardly below the sidewalls 23 by abnormal loads of hay forced along the same. Since thecorrugations or steps of the bottom wall 2% extend transversely of thewall, they will strengthen the wall transversely but will not interferewith the yielding downwardly of the lower portion of the wall.

If desired, a spring 51 may be employed at each side of the elevator forassisting in holding the lower end of the floor in its normal position.The resiliency of the floor and of the springs 51 will permit the floorto yield to receive any extra amount of hay delivered by the teeth ofthe gathering cylinder. If desired, the springs 51 may be attached to across-bar 52 secured to and movable with the bottom wall 24 of theloader.

By means of this arrangement the floor of the deck will becaused toautomatically descend by the pressure developed for increasing the spacefor receiving any abnormal amount of material delivered by the gatheringmechanism, thereby avoiding packing or crowding of the material and theunnecessary agitation of the same during the loading operation.

The crankshaft 81 is of such length and the cranks of such shape, formand length that more or less vibration results during the operation ofthe loader. Furthermore, the operation of the elevator bars in forcingthe material upwardly along the deck causes downward thrust on thecrankshaft, thus tending to distort the shaft.

In order to reduce this vibration to prevent distortion of the shaft andenable the device to operate more smoothly and with a minimum amount ofwear on the journals, it is desirable that the crankshaft be providedwith a bearing at an intermediate portion. As shown, a supporting bar 54attached at its lower end to an angle bar 55 secured to the transverseor end frame member 56 and attached at its intermediate portion to thetransverse frame member 57 by the angle bar 58, is provided at its upperend with a hearing 59, see Fig. 2, in which the intermediate portion ofthe crank shaft 31 is journaled.

By means of this arrangement the intermediate portion of the crankshaft31 is not only supported but is braced against downward thrust.

In Fig. 1 is shown a modified form of bot- '5;

tom wall or'floor for the deck. In this form of construction a pluralityof slats 61 extending longitudinally of the elevator, are employed. Ifdesired, these slats may be corrugated similar to the wall 24, but asshown 4 they are plane surfaces and each is provided with a plurality ofholding or anchor members 62 of any suitable construction. It will thusbe seen that the agitation of the material is reduced to a minimum atevery stage in loading the same, and as a consequence the leaves,blooms, branches, blades or the like which have considerable value, arenot stripped from the stalks, branches or vines and lost, as has beenthe case to a very large extent in loaders heretofore.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 5, a modified form of meansfor supporting the intermediate bearing is provided. As

shown, upright braces 63 and 64 are secured 63 and 64 may, if desired,be c'ontinu'ations of the brace members 71, see Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawings.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modified form of deck floor. In this form ofconstruction the corrugations 72 are arranged in a non-straight lineextending across the floor. In the specific construction shown they arecurved with the central or concave portion extending downwardly.

The form of construction shown in Fig. 7 differs from that shown inFigs. 1 to 4 in that the connecting portions 73 and 74 of thecorrugations 75 are curved rather than angular as-in the previousconstruction.

It is understood that the forms of retaining means and their arrangementas illustrated and described are by way of examples only, and that otherforms and arrangement of the corrugations or other holding means may beemployed as desired or as occasion may require.

In Fig. 8 are shown a plurality of modified forms of holding members.IVhere the floor of the deck is formed from sheet metal the upper face76 of the corrugations 77 may have portions slitted on three sides andthe parts bent outwardly to form retaining members 78, or if desired theinclined portions 79 of the corrugations may be slitted and bentoutwardly to form the angular retaining member 81 as shown in saidfigure. If desired, the retaining members may be made from rods bent toU-shape as shown at 82, the members being attached to the corrugations77 or floor of the deck by suitable clips 83 which permit the free endsof the rod to have a limited movement to and from the floor of the deck,or the U-shaped retaining member 82 may be secured on the uncle side ofthe deck floor by suitable clips 84., the free ends of the retainingmember 82 extending through suitable slots 85 in the floor of the deck.These slots may be elongated so that the ends of the U-shaped member mayhave limited movement whereby they will pivot toward the floor of thedeck to permit the material to move upwardly over the same and willengage the ends of the slots for preventing their movement beyond apredeterm ned angle to hold the material in its advanced position.

WVhile the loader is well adapted for loading hay it is understood thatit may be employed with the same efiiciency' in loading other material.

It is thought from the foregoing taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, that the construction and operation of my devicewill be apparent to those skilled in the art. and that various changesin size, shape, proportion and details of construction may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a loader, an elevator, frame members for'supporting said elevator,said elevator comprising a deck and reciprocating elevator bars, anoperating shaft having a plurality of cranks thereon for operating saidbars, bearings for the end portions of said shaft, bearing means for anintermediate portion of said shaft, a supporting bar having its lowerend rigidly connected to said frame members rearwardly of said elevatorand having its free upper end connected to said bearing means forsupporting the same and for preventing springing of said shaft inoperating said elevator bars.

2. In a loader, a deck having side and bottom walls, a portion of thebottom wall of sa d deck being movable and unattached to said sidewalls, and an apron attached to the movable portion of said bottom walland extending upwardly therefrom for lapping said side Walls when saidbottom wall is sprung downwardly from said side walls.

3. In a hay loader, a deck having side and bottom wall members securedagainst long tudinal movement, one of said members being provided withmaterial retaining means projecting outwardly from the plane thereof andpivoted thereto.

4. In a hay loader, a deck having side and bottom members, hay retainingfingers on one of said members, a plurality of lBClJlO- eating elementsfor elevating hay along said deck, rotary gathering mechanism, and meansfor operating said mechanism in timed relation to the operation of saidelements whereby the agitation of the hay delivered to said deck andelevated thereon will be reduced to a minimum.

5. In a loading mechanism, an elevator deck having a bottom wallprovided with material retainng means proJecting upwardly therefrom, asupport for said deck, a portion of said bottom wall being movable in asubstantially vertical plane, and means for advancing material alongsaid elevator deck.

6. An elevator deck for loading mechanism comprising a bottom member,mechanism for advancing material along said deck, non-advancing meansindependent of said mechanism for preventing return movement of thematerial while the same is being elevated along said deck.

7. In a loader, a deck, reciprocating means for elevating material alongsaid deck, means secured to said deck to hold the material in advancedposition during the return movement of said reciprocating means, movablegathering means, means for operating said last-named means in timedrelation to the movement of said reciprocating means, and means forautomatically increasing the distance between said reciprocating meansand the floor of said deck when the pressure of the material on saiddeck exceeds a predetermined maximum.

8. In a loader, a deck having bottom wall means, the bottom wall meansbeing secured against longitudinal movement and being provided withmaterial retaining corrugations extending at an angle to thelongitudinal center line of said deck.

9. In a loader, an upwardly and forwardly extending deck having a bottomwall, the bottom wall being provided with material retainingcorrugations, each corrugation having its angular surfaces inclinedupwardly and forwardly whereby the accumulation of water and othermatter on the surface of the bottom wall is prevented.

10. In combination, a deck for a loader, said deck having a bottom wallprovided with corrugations, a plurality of material retaining fingers onsaid wall, and means for advancing material along said wall.

11. In a loader mechanism, a deck having a portion of its bottom wallyieldable, said bottom wall having material retaining means thereon,reciprocating means for elevating material along said bottom wall, andmeans for delivering material to said reciprocating means in timedrelation to the movement of the latter.

12. In a loader for hay and the like, a deck, a plurality ofreciprocating elevator members having hay engaging means for elevatinghay along said deck, rotary gathering mechanism having teeth forgathering hay and delivering the same to said deck beneath said meansand means for operating said mechanism and elevator members in timedrelation so that hay or the like gathered by said mechanism will beengaged by said elevator members as it is delivered to said deck andelevated along the same whereby the agitation of said hay will bereduced to a minimum during the gathering and elevating operation.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

THEODORE H. OPPENHEIM.

